All posts by Nicole Reitz

Oswego County’s unemployment rate is on the rise once again, placing the county as one of six with the highest jobless rate in New York State.

The state Department of Labor recently released the figure for June, which shows the county’s jobless rate is at 10.9 percent. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 8.9 percent.

“Over the past year, the state had a decrease in the amount of initial unemployment insurance claims, and an increase in the labor force as more New Yorkers gained confidence in the economy,” the labor department said in a press release.

Claims dropped 8.5 percent from 92,628 in June 2011 to 84,738 in June 2012.

“Furthermore, the percentage of job seekers re-entering the labor force, or entering the labor force for the first time, increased 7 percent from June 2011 to June 2012,” the release states. “By comparison, the nation showed a two-percent increase during the same period.”

The county’s unemployment rate for May was at 10.2 percent, equal to the rate in June 2011.

The counties with the highest unemployment rate along with Oswego County include St. Lawrence, Orleans, Fulton, Bronx and Kings. The counties with the lowest unemployment include Hamilton, Putman, Saratoga, Tompkins, Rockland and Yates.

According to the Department of Labor, New York State’s economy added 15,400 private sector jobs in June. By comparison, the nation’s private sector job count increased by 84,000.

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Members of the Oswego County Legislature’s Infrastructure and Facilities Committee took the first step toward preparing for a costly landfill liner expansion at the Bristol Hill Transfer Station.

During Thursday’s meeting, the committee approved a budget transfer of $1 million to begin the project.

Oswego County Solid Waste Director Frank Visser has identified the need to begin planning for the engineering and construction of the next 5.4-acre cell.

The current estimate for the liner is $3.5 million.

According to an informational memorandum provided to legislators, the airspace currently left at the landfill will be sufficient for another six or seven years of use at the current filling rate.

“It is advisable to start working towards (sic) building the next cell now, because of the process involved,” Visser wrote.

The engineering needs to be completed April 2013 and the state Department of Environmental Conservation has to review and approve the plans and specifications.

Bidding and construction would begin around 2016.

Once landfill liners have been constructed, the first sold waste filled on top of the new liner must be “select waste” that generally consists of residential waste and is only available when the county’s Energy Recovery Facility bypasses waste during scheduled maintenance downtime.

To read the rest of the story, subscribe to The Valley News by calling 315-598-6397

The Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation’s fifth annual Hockey Classic will be held Aug. 10-14 at the SUNY Oswego Campus Center Arena in Oswego. The event is a 3-on-3 Cross-Ice Hockey Tournament. Pictured is a game from last year’s event.

Due to the growing popularity of the event, the Mite and Squirt divisions have expanded from four teams each to six teams each. The Pee Wee, Bantam/Midget, and Sled divisions consist of four teams each.

When the Sled division was added to the event in 2010, it became the first tournament ever to feature sled teams playing in a cross-ice, 3 on 3 format.

The event is scheduled to take place Friday, Aug. 10 from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Each participant will receive a custom jersey and custom medal.

A raffle of NHL memorabilia and quality Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation logo items will be available for purchase.

Parents are needed and encouraged to volunteer as coaches.

The Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2007 by NHL hockey player, Stanley Cup Champion,and U.S. Olympian Erik Cole to support youth hockey programs, as well as children suffering from life threatening diseases.

The Lois McClure, a full-scale replica of a 1860s canal schooner, will visit the Oswego Canal Festival at the Historic Maritime District Saturday, Sept. 1 through Monday, Sept. 3. Free tours will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The Oswego Canal Festival will be held over Labor Day weekend.

There will be crafts and activities, historic presentations, music, food and more from Saturday, Sept. 1 through Monday, Sept. 3.

Festivities run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Oswego’s Historic Maritime District on West First Street Pier.

The highlight of the festival will be a visit by the Lois McClure, a 1860s canal schooner that will be docked on the pier near the H. Lee White Marine Museum.

“It has been five years since the Lois McClure last visited Oswego and we are all excited about her return,” said Mercedes Niess, the museum’s executive director. “The boat was built by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to depict 19th century canal ships that both sailed on open water and moved people and goods through the canal systems. This makes her a perfect fit for our canal festival.”

This historic vessel is making the voyage to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

In addition to Oswego, the Lois McClure will visit the ports of Ottawa and Kingston, Ontario; Montréal, Québec; and Sackets Harbor, before traveling back to Lake Champlain where she will make stops at Essex and Vergennes, Vermont.

Neiss said, “Many ports on their tour either had fortifications significant to the War of 1812 or played an important role in supplying naval ships to the American fleet during the war.”

The Lois McClure will be open for free public tours during festival hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those seeking more information about the Oswego Canal Festival may call the H. Lee White Marine Museum at 342-0480 or visit www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com.

International guitar duo Loren Barrigar and Mark Mazengarb will hit the stage in Oswego Saturday, August 11 at 8 p.m. at Hall-Newman at 36 New Street.

The duo has just returned from their appearance as headline guests at the Annual Chet Atkins Convention in Nashville, and have been touring extensively throughout the USA as well as a spring 2012 tour of France and Germany.

Their style of guitar playing is largely built upon thumb-picking techniques pioneered by Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed, and their music is influenced by bluegrass, jazz and country.

Local guitar maker and singer/songwriter Mark Wahl, Denise Knight, and Joanne Sherwood will be opening the show.

Jo Ann Sherwood, music director at the Hall-Newman, said, “This is going to be a fantastic show. These guys had a great reception last year and we are expecting another packed house this time round.”

Barrigar said, “We had a great time at Hall-Newman last year and are excited that we can fit in a return visit this summer.”

Three people have been arrested in connection with a fight early Saturday morning, Oswego police said.

At approximately 2:40 a.m. July 28, police and EMS responded to West Bridge Street between West 7th and West 8th streets for a physical altercation between a two groups of males.

Upon investigation, it was determined that the fight had resulted in two people being injured.

One 20-year-old male suffered minor injuries. He was treated at Oswego Hospital for minor cuts, abrasions and bruises. The victim was later released.

A second male, also 20 years old, suffered serious injuries including broken facial bones and a possible skull fracture.

The victim was transported by private vehicle to Rochester General Hospital where he currently remains hospitalized. Police said the injuries do not appear to be life threatening.

Both victims are from the Rochester area.

Oswego Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the incident: 21-year-old Angel L. Lopez of Oswego, 21-year-old Jordan M. Perkins of Syracuse, and 16-year-old male of Oswego. The 16-year-old’s name is not being released due to his age.

Each suspect has been charged with third-degree assault, a class A misdemeanor, but, further charges and additional arrests are possible as the investigation continues.

Officers are asking anyone with information regarding the incident to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 342-8130 or 342-8201.